Folding closure



I July 16, 1957 L. SCHEFF 2,799,332

' FOLDING CLOSURE Filed Jan. 30, 1953 ATTORNEYS.

FOLDING CLOSURE Lenard Scheif, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 30, 1953, Serial No. 334,277

1 Claim. (Cl. 16084) This invention relates to a folding door or closurefor use in door openings or for separation of a room into separatecompartments or sections.

It is an object of this invention to produce a folding door or curtainof the type described which greatly simplifies the construction andoperation as compared to structures of like character now in use therebymarkedly to reduce the cost and the material for construction withoutloss of operation or results.

Another object is to produce a folding door or curtain of the typedescribed which is easy in operation, sturdy in construction, andmanufactured of a few simple parts which can be prefabricated of readilyavailable materials into sub-assemblies further toreduce the labor andcost factors.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention willhereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration, but not oflimitation, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanyingdrawing in WhlCh- Figure l is a perspective elevational view of aportion of a folding door assembly embodying features of this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional elevational view of the arrangement ofparts at the upper end of the pantograph from which the foldable curtainis suspended;

Figure 3 is a perspective elevational view of the bracket mounted on theupper end of the lazy tong levers;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a folding door assemblyembodying a further modification of this invention;

Figure 5 is a top plan view illustrating the arrangement of parts whenthe elements are in expanded position, and

Figure 6 is a top plan view illustrating the arrangement between partswhen the elements are in collapsed position.

In the past, folding doors or curtains of the type described have beenconstructed principally with a pair of vertically spaced and verticallydisposed pantographs which join laterally spaced frame members tomaintain a desired spaced parallel relationship between the framemembers during shifting movement in the direction toward and away fromeach other to between closed and open positions respectively. Thecurtain of a textile or coated fabric is suspended from arms of a pairof upper and lower pantographs which are horizontally disposed formovement to control the folds of the curtain upon operation of the framemembers between open and closed positions. Rails or other guide meansare provided to support the upper and lower horizontally disposedpantographs during movement of the door between open and closedpositions.

In accordance with the practice of this invention, the upper and lowerhorizontally disposed pantographs heretofore employed to support andfold the curtain during movement between open and closed positions iscompletely eliminated and its function and operation provided in agreatly simplified and expedient manner with an attachment constructedto operate as a part of the vertically disposed pantographs heretoforeemployed solely for maintaining a spaced parallel relation between thedoor frame members or posts. While the function of the States Patenthorizontally disposedpantographs are provided by the construction whichwill hereinafter be described, it will be apparent that the attachmentor modification of the vertically disposed pantographs is in no waysimilar or equivalent to the elements heretofore employed nor capable ofsubstitution therefor from the structural standpoint.

As in present constructions, a folding door or wall embodying featuresof this invention makes use of a pair of upright frame members 10 and 11of rigid material such as wood, plastics or metal, and connected by oneor more vertically disposed pantographs P for maintaining a guidedparallel relation between the frame members during movement of onetoward the other between open and closed positions. The pantographs areof the usual construction having one lazy tong lever 13 pivoted uponanother 14 at their centers 12 to form a pair with one pair of pivotedlazy tong levers joined to others adjacent thereto by pivotalconnections between the ends of the adjacent arms, as illustrated.

In accordance with the practice of this invention it is necessary forthe lazy tong levers to remain at a con stant level at one end and forthis purpose the upper end portions 15 of the outermost lazy tong levers16 and 17 on each end of the pantograph are fixed in a manner to preventvertical shifting movement while the lower end portions 18 of theoutermost lever arms 19 and 20 pivoted upon the first lever arms 16 and17 respectively are permitted to shift vertically during operation ofthe pantograph between collapsed and extended positions of adjustment aseffected during movement of the frame members 10 and 11 in the directiontoward and away from each other respectively.

Various means may be used pivotally to secure the upper ends 15 of theouter levers to the frame members and slidably to secure the lower ends18 of the outermost levers to the same frame members. As shown in thedrawing, the upper ends 15 of the outermost arms 16 and 17 are pivotedupon ears 21 extending inwardly from brackets 22 fixed onto the innerwall at the upper portion of each frame member 10 and 11. The lower ends18 of the lazy tong levers 19 and 20 are pivoted upon ears 23 extendinginwardly from a bushing 24 mounted for sliding engagement on verticallydisposed rods 25 secured in closely spaced apart relation to the innerwall along a lower portion of each frame member 10 and 11. It will beunderstood that other means may be used for guiding the lower endportion of the lazy tong levers during vertical movement and that suchguiding means may also be eliminated, especially when two or morepantographs are present in the door construction.

Instead of making use of another group of horizontally disposedpantographs for supporting the curtain and for folding or unfolding thecurtain during movement of the frame members between open and closedpositions, as in present constructions, use is made of a new and novelarrangement wherein a horizontally disposed lever 30 is pivotallymounted on the substantially stationary ends of the pantograph leversfor swinging movement about the center thereof in a horizontal plane andfor rocking movement relative thereto in a vertical plane in order tomaintain a desired horizontal relationship of the lever arm 30notwithstanding changes in the angular positions of the pantographlevers as effected during operation between collapsed and expandedpositions of adjustment.

As shown in the drawing, the horizontally disposed lever arms 30 whichmay be formed of wood, plastic, metal or the like, are pivotedintermediate their ends upon a pivot pin 31 extending upwardly from ahorizontally disposed frame wall 32 of 'a bracket 33 and upon which thelever arm 30 rests. The pivot pins 31 extend through openings 34 in thelever arms and the pivot pins are provided with a stop nut 35 or upsetin the through-extending portion to prevent displacement of the leverarm 30 from its assembled relation.

The curtain 44 formed of a textile material or coated fabric or the likeis suspended to cover one side of the pantograph by attachment to theend portion of the lever arm 30 as by clips in the event that the leverarm is formed of metal or the like. t is preferred however to make useof lever arms fabricated of wood so that the upper edge portion 36 ofthe curtain may be lapped over the top wall 37 of the lever arm andsecured thereto by stapling or by tacks 37 so that the curtain will besupported by the edge of the lever arm throughout a substantial lengththereof thereby to prevent wrinkling, distortion and tearing which ischaracteristic of assemblies wherein the curtain is supported fromeyelets or from fasteners alongthe side wall of the supportingpantograph arms.

In order to prevent angular adjustment of the brackets 33 responsive torocking movement of the lazy tong levers during operation of thepantograph between collapsed and extended positions of adjustment, thebracket supporting the lever arms is further provided with a dependingarm 38 which is positioned between the end portions of lazy tong leversof adjacent pairs and is provided with an opening 39 through which thepivot pin 40 connecting the lever arms extends to permit the bracket toride in a vertical plane and thereby maintain its horizontalrelationship independent of the angular positions of the lazy tonglevers. It is preferred that the depending plate 38 extend substantiallyin alignment with the pivot pin 31 so as to support the lever arm 30 ata constant level independent of the adjustment of the pantograph.

Guide means such as rollers 41 may be provided for riding upon rails inthe door frame to support and guide the structure during movementbetween open and closed positions of adjustment. Such guide rails may beprovided exclusively on the movable frame member but it is preferredalso to provide such guide rails on one or all of the bracketssubstantially as an extension of the pivot pin 31 or as an attachmentthereto. Thus the pantograph levers as well as the frame members will besu ported during movement between open and closed positions ofadjustment without interference with the movement of the levers 31 bywhich the desired folds in the curtain are effected.

In the event that it is unnecessary to provide a curtain to enclose theopposite side of the pantograph, the lever 30 may comprise an arm ofsubstantially half the length pivoted at one end for swinging movementabout the pivot pin 31, as in the arms 43 at each end pivoted uponbrackets attached to the frame members and 11.

It will be apparent from the description that the lever arms pivoted onpins 31 and supporting curtains will be caused to swing about theirpivots during opening and closing movements of the frame members tocontrol the folds of the curtain and that lever arms of the typedescribed will occupy less space than pantograph systems which have beenheretofore employed. The positions of the arms, when the pantograph isshifted to extended position, will be determined by the length ofcurtain between arms and the attachment thereto, but it is preferred tomount the curtain for an opening to position the arms at an angle whichwill bring the end of one in alignment with the opposite end of theother so that the folds will be uniform on both sides and complementary,as illustrated in Figure 5. In this connection also, it is preferred tosecure the curtain to one side of the lever arm and to limit suchadjustment chiefly to the outer end portion thereof so as to permit freemovement of the curtain through the major lengths thereof for flexingoutwardly from between the lever arms and prevent pinching of thecurtain or bounce when the door frame is adjusted to open position.

Though not equivalent, a further improvement in the construction of afolding door or closure is illustrated in Figure 4 wherein a flexiblestrip 50 of stiffening material preferably formed to be incapable offlexure other than in a lengthwise direction is secured as by stitchingto the upper end portion of the curtain 51 and said strip member is inturn secured to the pivot pin which pivotally connects the upper ends oflazy tong levers of adjacent pairs and which is connected to the doorframe members to maintain a constant level during movement of thepantograph to between extended and collapsed positions of adjustment.The stiffened strip secured to the curtain functions primarily tocontrol the fold but need not be of a character to support the curtainsince the curtain material itself, when supported as it is in closelyspaced apart points, is able to supply its own support between pins toavoid sag. When curtains facing in both directions are used, a similararrangement may be provided for mounting the curtain on the same pivotpins but on the opposite side of the pantograph. Such stiffeningelements may also be mounted in a similar manner in the lower portion ofthe curtain for connection with other pantographs in the event that suchare used.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that markedimprovements are provided in the construction and operation of foldingdoors and closures of the type described whereby such members may bemanufactured of relatively few simple parts into a more dependable,sturdier door which is characterized by lower cost and a more attractiveappearance.

It will be understood that changes may be made in the construction,arrangement and operation without departing from the spirit of theinvention, especially as defined in the following claim.

I claim:

In a folding closure, vertically disposed parallel frame members inwhich one is shiftable relative the other in a common vertical planebetween open and closed positions, a pantograph formed of pairs ofvertically disposed lazy tong levers rotatable in the plane of the framemembers about an axis perpendicular thereto and in which one is pivotedupon the other intermediate its ends with the end portions of the leversof one pair being pivoted onto the end portions of the levers ofadjacent pairs with one end of the outermost levers being pivoted infixed position onto the frame members for maintaining a uniform levelalong one of the vertical edge portions during adjustment of thepantograph between collapsed and extended posi- 1 tions responsive tomovement of the frame members between open and closed positionsrespectively, a plurality of horizontally disposed lever armsunconnectable with each other, means mounting the lever arms onto eachof the pivoted ends of the lazy tong levers of fixed vertical positionfor rocking movement relative thereto in a vertical plane parallel tothe plane of the frame members and for swinging movement thereto in ahorizontal plane perpendicular to the plane of the frame members and theaxis of rotation of the pantograph levers comprising a bracket having ahorizontally disposed platform, a pin extending upwardly perpendicularlyfrom the platform and upon which the lever arm is rotatably mounted, aflange extending in opposite direction from the platform in alignmentwith the pivot pin, and means on the flange for pivotal connection withsaid pivoted ends of the lazy tong levers, and a curtain supported bysaid lever arms between the frame members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS684,130 Taubert Oct. 8, 1901 1,878,073 Van Sant Sept. 20, 1932 1,891,002McCombie Dec. 13, 1932 1,907,021 Van Sant May 2, 1933 2,584,111 Brenneret al. Feb. 5, 1952

